Cushion for footwear.



, B. N. B. MILLER. cUsHLoN FOB FooTwmB. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1907.

990,8673` ,v Patented oct.'13,19os.

W I TNESSE IN VEN TOR.

y v 79j@ BENJAniN N. B. MILLER, orjnAR'rroRD, oNNEe'rIoUT.

,CUSHION Fonroorw-EAR.

i No. 900,867.

Sp ecication ofLetters APatent.

rate-need oet. 13, 190cm Application filed June 24, 1907. Serial No. 389,471.

To all whom 'it may concern: I

Be 1t known that I, BENJAMIN N. B. MILLnR, a citizen of the United States, and a resldentof Hartford, in the county of lHartford* and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Improved Cushlion for Footwear, yof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices for use in relieving the 'jar produced at the heel in walking, and the object of my invention is to provide a device ofthis class that may be readily applied to a shoe or like article of footwear; and a further object of the invention is to provide a device that may -be practically constructed in an economical and eliicient manner; and a further obJect of the device is to construct a cushion that shallproperly support the footl at all points irrespective of the position of the foot of the wearer with respect to the shoe; and a further object ofthe invention is to provide means for lsupplying the cushion withcompressed air.

A form of device in the use vof which these objects may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a heel embody.- ing my invention vwith parts broken away to show construction. Fig; 2 is a view in longitudinal section on plane denoted by line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.l 3 is a view in transverse section on plane denoted by line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is an inverted plan View of a 'modified form of device to be used in the front part of a shoe. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig-2 showing a modiication in the valve.

My invention is especially applicable to a cushion designed to supp rt the 4heel of a person, although it may be pplied for the support of other portions of the "foot in cases where a support may be sgyrequired.

In the accompanying dravfiijgsga tructurccmbodying the inventionE/as' appli d to a cushion for aheel includes abody or base 6 that is constructed of liexible material,

' preferably rubber molded to shape, this base channel 11 extends cross-wise ofthe strucf.

6 as a whole including a b'otto1n7 and a top 8. Channels 9 extend preferablylengthwise of the structure at suitable intervals, these channels being divided by walls 10 extending betweenand `united tothe to and bottom, being formed integral therewit A ture, connecting all of the channels 9, this channel 11 being located preferably at one 'g end of the channels 9. While I have shown and described the main channels 9 as exgtending lengthwise of the structure, and the fcross channel 11 located at the end thereof, `I contemplate various arrangements- 'of the channels within the body part, and a com- Amunicating channel or channels between the main channels. y

At one edge` of the structure, preferably the forward end, when embodiedin a heel,

I are formed two flaps, an upper flap 12 and a lower ap 13, the spacevor opening 14 between ,these flaps extending to the channel 11. On'jthe inner surface of'one of these llaps and within said opening, and preferably, as shown herein, on the upper surface of the lower flap 13, is formed a bulbous projection 15,-arranged to fit within a recess 16 on the inner surface of the opposite flap, this recess being formed of such shape that the bulb l5 shall fit snugly therein. An aperture"17 is formed through the flap into the recess 16. VThe base 6 is preferably formed as to the under Asurface with ribs 18 within which the Ymain channels 9 are k? cated. f

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I haveshown an application of the invention as'embodied in a support for the forward part of a foot,

this consisting of a'body -part 19 having ribsv 20 within which are located grooves or channels, and the rear end is constructed with an upper Hap and a bottom Hap 21, the whole attachedto an insole 22. The general form 1 of this structure is the same as that hereinto shape, and in thus constructing the device a mold conforming to the outer final form of the cushion is provided, this mold including a core having fingers corresponding in shape to the channels 9, a cross-piece correspondin in'shape `to the channel 11' uniting said gersand a web which forms the space or #opening 14 extending mward frenenesendgcf the mold an-dwhich may form thel means"f-attacl1ment for the core' to the mold. Y I Y* The rubber is filled into the mold about the fingers, cross-piece and web in a manner which will be well understood by those familiar yviththis art, and after the rubber has i 150. cushion following the foot provides a firm,

been subjected to proper treatment it is removed from the mold, whence it will be seen that by bending the flaps 12 and 13 backward away from each other the' core may be easily withdrawn, producing the main channels, cross channels and openings as shown.

In completing the heel I employ a hollow, needle with a perforated point which is inserted through the aperture 17. This needle is connected with some source of air supply under pressure and a cementing material having been applied to the meeting surfaces of the flaps 12 and 13 they are closed together, air is admitted through the needle passing into the channel 11 and thence into the channels 9. The cushion is thus supplied with air to any desired degree of pressure. When the desired pressure is obtained within the Structure the needle is withdrawn and the bulb 15 pressed into the frecess 16. The needle may also be supplied with means for finally introducing a cementitious material into the recess 16 just as the needle is withdrawn, The parts are now pressed rmly .together and placed Within a mold or ress and the cementitious material permitte to set, whence it will be seen that a heel provided with air under pressure is obtained, this heel being practically a solid piece of rubber.

While I have shown one means of carryin out my invention, other means for embo ying the same idea may be provided. In Fig. 5 the means for closin the opening through which air is supplie consists of a half ball 23, preferably constructed of rubber, this piece, and in fact the bulb 15 hereinbefore described, constituting valves operable in the act of supplying the air. As the air enters the structure the valve is forced away from the inlet opening, and when the desired pressure is obtained, by pressing the bulb or ball to its seat or place within the recess the air is revented from escaping and this acts in t e nature of a valve to maintain the pressure within the cushion.

Other variations are contemplated by me and I do not desire or intend to limit myself to the precise form of construction hereinbefore described.

It will be noted from this construction that the parts of the foot are firmly supported at all times, the action of the cushion being such that when added weight is applied to one side of the structure to compress it the air expelled from this part of the structure flows into that part underlying the ortioh of the foot under which weight has een released, and this portion of the support t all times, compression in one part of the'structure causing an inflation at another part from the fact that the air can not escape. This, in fact, makes the cushion conform to the position ofthe foot with respect to the shoe and always provides a firm support for all parts of the foot underneath which the cushion is located.

I claim- 1. An article of manufacture to be formed into a cushion for footwear including a body part formed of al single piece of lexible material molded to shape and having channels arranged to permit removal of a core and disposed practically throughout the whole of the body part, said cushion having an opening at the end of the structure extending into said channels and arranged to permit removal of a core from all ofthe channels.

2. An article of manufacture to be formed into a cushion for foot-wear includin a body part formed of a single piece of ilexl le material molded to shape and having channels extending thcreaeross practically parallel each with the other and disposed practically throughout the whole of the body part, said cushion having an opening at the end'bf the structure extending into said channels and formed to permit removal of a core from all of the channels.

3. A cushion for foot-wear including a body part formed of a single piece of material and having channels closed at one end and extending lengthwise thereof and with flaps at the opposite end sealed together and closing a mouth extending into said openm An article produced in the formation of a cushion for foot-wear and including a body part formed of a single piece of material having main channels disposed with separating walls throughout all of the body part and with a communicating channel between the main channels, and an upper and lower lip having a slit or opening therebetween extending into said channels.

5. An article produced in the formation of a cushion for foot-wear and including a body part formed of a single piece of material with main channels extending in the same general direction and a communicating channel therebetween located at the end of the main channels, and upper and lower lips with a' slit therebetween extending into said I cross channels.

6. An article produced in the formation of a cushion for foot-wear and including main channels disposed throughout the body part and extending generally in the same direction, a cross channel located at the end of the main channels and communicating therewith, and an upper and lower lip having their inner surfaces terminating at said cross channel closed with a cementitious material.

7 An article produced in the formation of a cushion for foot-wear and including a body part formed of a single piece of material with main channels extending inl the same general direction throu hout the body part, a cross channel locate at the end of the main channels and comliptinicating there- Withu'pperml lower ips havlng their inner surfaces terminating l1n sald cross channel closed With a cementitious material,4 and a valve upon one of said meetlng sur-- faces ftting a recess in the opposing meeting surface.

S. An article produced in the formation of a cushion for foot-Wear and including a body part formed of a single piece of material having communicating channels extending in the same general direction and -with lips forming an opening extending across the body part and into said channels, said lips being formed to be secured together to close the opening into the channels.

9. A cushion for foot-wear including a body part having communicating channels 4them together.

y BENJAMIN N. B. MILLER; Witnesses:

ARTHURKB. JENKINS, LENA Ei` Bnnriovrrcn. 

